Electric cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electric cleaning apparatus, which comprises an autonomous cleaning unit which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned and collects dust, and a station unit which has a charging electrode for the autonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous cleaning unit includes a first body case having a first inlet, a secondary battery which accumulates electric power supplied from the charging electrode, a first dust collecting container which accumulates dust sucked from the first inlet, and an electric blower which is driven by electric power supplied from the secondary battery and makes negative pressure act on the first dust collecting container, and wherein the station unit is provided with a second body case having a second inlet which sucks other dust different from the dust which the autonomous cleaning unit collects.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of PCT international application No.PCT/JP2016/073458 filed on Aug. 9, 2016, the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference. This application is based upon andclaims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese PatentApplication No. 2015-180758, filed on Sep. 14, 2015 and the priorJapanese Patent Application No. 2015-181013, filed on Sep. 14, 2015, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments according to the invention relate to an electric cleaningapparatus.

BACKGROUND

A cleaning apparatus, which is provided with a dust control product suchas a dust mop and a dust collecting device for sucking dust gatheredwith the dust control product into a dust collecting container, isknown.

In recent years, an autonomous cleaner i.e. a so-called robotic cleaner,which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned and collects dust,is known. A robotic cleaner requires a working of a time unit from tensof minutes to an hour in order to clean a whole of residential rooms.Accordingly, the robotic cleaner has high convenience in cleaningresidential rooms autonomously during absence of a dweller. On the otherhand, the convenience decreases necessarily in a case of a use such ascollecting and disposing of wastes of snacks which children spilt, i.e.,a use such as cleaning a part of a residential room immediately. In ause such as removing wastes of snacks which children spilt, a mop, abroom or a means for sweeping and collecting dust with a floor cleaningtool, for example, which is other than an autonomous cleaning device,can respond more promptly.

However, even in a case in which a means other than an autonomouscleaning device, for example, a mop, a broom or a means for sweeping andcollecting dust with a floor cleaning tool can respond more promptly,there is also an aspect that an additional work in which a dustpan isnecessary to be used arises in disposing of dust after sweeping andcollecting the dust.

An electric cleaning apparatus, which combines an autonomous cleaningunit for moving autonomously over a surface to be cleaned and collectingdust and a station unit for accumulating dust transported for disposalfrom the autonomous cleaning unit, is known as an autonomous cleaningapparatus. This kind of electric cleaning apparatus connects anautonomous cleaning unit and a station unit fluidically in order totransport dust from the autonomous cleaning unit to the station unit.The station unit has a dust transport duct which is coupled with a firstdust collecting container of the autonomous cleaning unit and isconnected to the first dust collecting container fluidically, a seconddust collecting container which accumulates dust transported fordisposal from the first dust collecting container through the dusttransport duct, and a second electric blower which makes negativepressure act on the dust transport duct via the second dust collectingcontainer.

A conventional electric cleaning apparatus is provided with a dustcollecting container of a filtration separating type (a second dustcollecting container) which adopts a filter to filter and separate dustfrom air. In the dust collecting container of the filtration separatingtype, the filter becomes blocked and a suction negative pressure isweakened as an accumulation amount of dust increases so that thecapability of transporting dust from an autonomous cleaning unit lowersgradually. Even immediate after disposing of dust, i.e., even when dustis not yet accumulated in the dust collecting container of thefiltration separating type, a case where dust cannot be transported froman autonomous cleaning unit may occur, when openings of a filteringsurface of the filter are blocked due to sucking of dust such as a largeamount of powder bodies which blocks the filtering surface of the filterat once. On the other hand, it is desired that an autonomous cleaningunit can be continued to be used without caring or working formaintenance from several days to a long period of a degree of severalweeks, i.e., in a so-called maintenance-free state. In other words, thefunction to transport dust from an autonomous cleaning unit to a stationunit is desired to be demonstrated for a long period as much aspossible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning apparatus according toa first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning apparatus according toa second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of anelectric cleaning apparatus according to a third embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a bottom of the autonomous cleaningunit of the electric cleaning apparatus according to the thirdembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a station unit of the electriccleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second dust collecting container of theelectric cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a second centrifugal separating portion ofthe second dust collecting container of the electric cleaning apparatusaccording to the third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing joining portions of theautonomous cleaning unit and the station unit of the electric cleaningapparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing joining portions of thestation unit of the electric cleaning apparatus according to the thirdembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments provide an electric cleaning apparatus which includes acharging function for an autonomous cleaning unit and is capable ofautonomous cleaning by an autonomous cleaning unit and easy disposal ofdust gathered after local cleaning is rapidly performed using a meansother than an autonomous cleaning unit, for example, a mop, a broom or afloor cleaning tool, by utilizing a station unit to be placed in aresidential room.

One embodiment provides an electric cleaning apparatus comprising anautonomous cleaning unit which moves autonomously over a surface to becleaned and collects dust, and a station unit which has a chargingelectrode for the autonomous cleaning unit.

The autonomous cleaning unit includes a first body case having a firstinlet, a secondary battery which accumulates electric power suppliedfrom the charging electrode, a first dust collecting container whichaccumulates dust sucked from the first inlet, and an electric blowerwhich is driven by electric power supplied from the secondary batteryand makes negative pressure act on the first dust collecting container.The station unit is provided with a second body case having a secondinlet which sucks other dust different from the dust which theautonomous cleaning unit collects.

Further, when desired, the station unit includes a dust transport ductwhich is coupled with the autonomous cleaning unit and is fluidicallyconnected to the first dust collecting container, a second dustcollecting container which accumulates dust transported for disposalfrom the first dust collecting container through the dust transportduct, and a second electric blower which makes negative pressure act onthe dust transport duct via the second dust collecting container. Thesecond dust collecting container is provided with a multi-stagecentrifugal separating unit including a first centrifugal separatingportion which centrifugally separates dust flowing from the dusttransport duct from air, and a second centrifugal separating portionwhich separates dust passing the first centrifugal separating portionfrom air.

Hereinafter, further embodiments of an electric cleaning apparatusaccording to the invention will be described below with reference to thedrawings.

A first embodiment of the electric cleaning apparatus according to theinvention, will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning apparatus according tothe embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electric cleaning apparatus 1 according tothe embodiment is provided with an autonomous cleaning unit 2 whichautonomously moves over a surface to be cleaned to collect dust and astation unit 5 including a charging electrode 3 for the autonomouscleaning unit 2.

The electric cleaning apparatus 1 causes the autonomous cleaning unit 2to autonomously move over a surface to be cleaned in a residential roomto collect the dust. Then, the electric cleaning apparatus 1 causes theautonomous cleaning unit 2 to home to the station unit 5 and to standready until the next cleaning.

The station unit 5 is placed at any location in the residential room.When charge is necessary or cleaning of the residential room isfinished, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5to shift into a standby mode or a charging mode. A position, at whichthe station unit 5 and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 are electricallyconnected with each other such that the autonomous cleaning unit 2 isrechargeable, is referred to as a “home position” of the autonomouscleaning unit 2. Return of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the stationunit 5 and shift of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 into a standby modeor a charging mode after the return to the station unit 5 are referredto as “homing”.

The autonomous cleaning unit 2 is a so-called robotic cleaner. Theautonomous cleaning unit 2 includes a first body case 11 having a first,inlet 6, a secondary battery 18 provided to the first body case 11, adust collecting container 12 (first dust collecting container) whichaccumulates dust sucked from the first inlet 6, an electric blower 13which is driven by power supplied from the secondary battery 18 to makenegative pressure act on the dust collecting container 12, a moving unit15 which supports the first body case 11 movably on the surface to becleaned, a drive unit 16 which drives with the power supplied from thesecondary battery 18 to operate the moving unit 15, and a roboticcontrol unit 17 which controls the drive unit 16 to cause the first bodycase 11 to move autonomously on the surface to be cleaned.

The first body case 11 is, for example, a synthetic-resin discoid box,and easily circles on the surface to be cleaned. The bottom surface ofthe first body case 11 has the first inlet 6 extending laterally.

The first inlet 6 in width is approximate to two thirds of the firstbody case 11 in width, namely, in diameter. The first inlet 6 isfluidically connected to the electric blower 13 through the dustcollecting container 12.

The dust collecting container 12 is provided to the first body case 11.The dust collecting container 12 accumulates the dust sucked from thefirst inlet 6 due to the suction negative pressure generated by theelectric blower 13. The dust collecting container 12 includes a filterwhich filters and collects the dust, and a separating device whichseparates the air and the dust with inertial separation such ascentrifugation (cyclone separation) or translatory separation toaccumulate the dust and to allow the air to pass.

The moving unit 15 supports the first body case 11 with at least threewheels. The moving unit 15 includes left and right paired driving wheels(not illustrated) provided on the bottom surface of the first body case11, and a driven wheel (not illustrated) provided on the bottom surfaceof the first body case 11.

The autonomous cleaning unit 2 rotates the paired driving wheelsmutually in the same direction to move forward or backward, and rotatesthe paired driving wheels mutually opposite to circle right or left. Thedriven wheel is, for example, a caster capable of circling.

The drive unit 16 includes paired electric motors which drive the pairedrespective driving wheels. The drive unit 16 drives the paired drivingwheels independently.

The robotic control unit 17 includes a microprocessor (not illustrated),and a storage device (not illustrated) which stores, for example,various computing programs to be executed by the microprocessor andparameters. The robotic control unit 17 is electrically connected to theelectric blower 13 and the drive unit 16. The robotic control unit 17controls the electric blower 13 to make the negative pressure act on thefirst inlet 6 and controls the drive unit 16 to cause the autonomouscleaning unit 2 to travel autonomously.

The secondary battery 18 is a power source for the electric blower 13,the drive unit 16, and the robotic control unit 17. The secondarybattery 18 is electrically connected to a charging terminal 19 providedon the bottom surface of the first body case 11. Connection of thecharging terminal 19 to the charging electrode 3 of the station unit 5allows the secondary battery 18 to be charged.

The station unit 5 is placed at any location on the surface to becleaned in the residential room. The station unit 5 includes a secondbody case 66 having a second inlet 65 which sucks dust different fromthe dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, the chargingelectrode 3, a power cord 29 which guides power from a commercialalternating current power source E to the charging electrode 3, and asuction air passage 140 which allows the second inlet 65 and the firstinlet 6 to communicate with each other when the autonomous cleaning unit2 homes to the station unit 5.

The second body case 66 is a box of an appropriate shape capable ofbeing placed on the surface to be cleaned in the residential room. Thesecond body case 66 has an appropriate shape not to interfere with theautonomous cleaning unit 2 even when the autonomous cleaning unit 2homes.

The second inlet 65 is applied for use in sucking dust collected by ameans except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as a mop, a broom or afloor cleaning tool, or dust adhering to the mop, the broom or the floorcleaning tool itself. Thus, the second inlet 21 is disposed at the lowerportion of the second body case 66, and has, for example, an appropriatewidth along the surface to be cleaned and an appropriate height alongthe perpendicular of the surface to be cleaned.

The suction air passage 140 may be in either a mode in which the secondinlet 65 is directly connected to the dust collecting container 12without the first inlet 6 (suction air passage 140 a) or a mode in whichthe second inlet 65 is connected to the dust collecting container 12through the first inlet 6 (suction air passage 140 b).

The suction air passage 140 (140 a, 140 b) is provided to the secondbody case 66. One end portion of the suction air passage 140 (140 a, 140b) is connected to the second inlet 65.

The other end portion of the suction air passage 140 a is disposed at anappropriate location to communicate with the dust collecting container12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2homes. The dust collecting container 12 preferably includes a lid (notillustrated) which opens to allow the dust collecting container 12 andthe suction air passage 140 a to communicate with each other, inresponse to the homing of the autonomous cleaning unit 2.

The other end portion of the suction air passage 140 a is disposed at anappropriate location to communicate with the first inlet 6 of theautonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes.

The charging electrode 3 is provided to the second body case 66. Thecharging electrode 3 is disposed at an appropriate location to establishelectrical connection in contact with the charging terminal 19 of theautonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes.

When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes to the home position, theelectric cleaning apparatus 1 allows the charging terminal 19 of theautonomous cleaning unit 2 and the charging electrode 3 of the stationunit 5 to be in contact with each other, so that electrical connectionis established to charge the secondary battery 18. At this time, theelectric cleaning apparatus 1 fluidically connects the second inlet 65of the station unit 5 to the electric blower 13 of the autonomouscleaning unit 2 through the dust collecting container 12 through orwithout the first inlet 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2.

The electric cleaning apparatus 1 drives the electric blower 13 of theautonomous cleaning unit 2, on the basis of a direct command to theautonomous cleaning unit 2 or the operation of a sensor (notillustrated) which detects approach of the mop, the broom, or the floorcleaning tool itself to the second inlet 65. The negative pressuregenerated by the operation of the electric blower 13 acts on the secondinlet 65 of the station unit 5 through the dust collecting container 12,the first inlet 6 and the suction air passage 125, so that the dust issucked from the second inlet 65. The dust sucked from the second inlet65 is a dust collected by the means except the autonomous cleaning unit2, such as the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool, or a dustadhering to the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool itself.

Since the electric cleaning apparatus 1 having the configurationaccording to the embodiment includes the second inlet 65 of the stationunit 5, a dust collected by the means except the autonomous cleaningunit 2, such as the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool, or a dustadhering to the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool itself can besucked. The dust suction function of the electric cleaning apparatus 1is suitable for locally cleaning part of the residential room, forexample, for cleaning dust such as pieces of snacks spilled by a child.The electric cleaning apparatus 1 takes several tens of minutes toseveral hours when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 autonomously drives toclean the entire residential room, and can promptly suck and accumulatethe dust swept in several tens of seconds to several minutes from thesecond inlet 65 when the residential room is locally cleaned by themeans except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as the mop, the broomor the floor cleaning tool.

The electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment sucks thedust with the suction system of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 (theelectric blower 13, the dust collecting container 12 and the first inlet6) in communication with the second inlet 65 of the station unit 5 sothat a promptly dust suction function can be provided with no increasein the number of components.

A second embodiment of the electric cleaning apparatus according to theinvention, will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning apparatus according tothe second embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment, constituents in common with those of the electriccleaning apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted withthe same reference signs, and thus the descriptions to be duplicatedwill be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, an electric cleaning apparatus 1A according tothe embodiment includes an autonomous cleaning unit 2 which autonomouslymoves over a surface to be cleaned to collect dust, and a station unit5A including a charging electrode 3 for the autonomous cleaning unit 2.

The electric cleaning apparatus 1A causes the autonomous cleaning unit 2to autonomously move over a surface to be cleaned in a residential roomto collect the dust. Then, the electric cleaning apparatus 1A causes theautonomous cleaning unit 2 to home to the station unit 5A andsubsequently to stand ready until the next cleaning.

The station unit 5A is placed at any location in the residential room.When needing charge or finishing cleaning the residential room, theautonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5A to migrateinto a standby mode or a charging mode. A position, at which the stationunit 5A and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 are electrically connectedwith each other such that the autonomous cleaning unit 2 isrechargeable, is referred to as the “home position” of the autonomouscleaning unit 2. Return of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the stationunit 5A and shift of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 into a standby modeor a charging mode after the return to the station unit 5A are referredto as “homing”.

The station unit 5A is placed at any location on the surface to becleaned in the residential room. The station unit 5A includes a secondbody case 66 having a second inlet 21 which sucks dust different fromthe dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, the chargingelectrode 3, a power cord 29 which guides power from a commercialalternating current power source E to the charging electrode 3, a seconddust collecting container 68 which accumulates the dust sucked from thesecond inlet 65, a second electric blower 69 which applies negativepressure to the second dust collecting container 68, and a stationcontrol unit 133 which controls the second electric blower 69 to makethe negative pressure act on the second inlet 65.

The second dust collecting container 68 is provided to the second bodycase 66. The second dust collecting container 68 accumulates the dustsucked from the second inlet 65 due to the suction negative pressuregenerated by the second electric blower 69. The second dust collectingcontainer 68 includes a filter which filters and collects the dust, anda separating device which separates the air and the dust with inertialseparation such as centrifugation (cyclone separation) or translatoryseparation to accumulate the dust and equally to allow the air to pass.The second dust collecting container 68 is included in the stationarystation unit 5A without moving together with the autonomous cleaningunit 2, differently from a dust collecting container 12, so that thesecond dust collecting container 68 easily ensures larger capacity thanthat of the dust collecting container 12.

The second electric blower 69 can directly acquire the power from thecommercial alternating current power source E, and thus may have outputlarger than that of an electric blower 13 driven by the secondarybattery 18.

A station control unit 143 includes a microprocessor (not illustrated),and a storage device (not illustrated) which stores, for example,various computing programs executed by the microprocessor andparameters. The station control unit 143 is electrically connected tothe second electric blower 69. The station control unit 143 controls thesecond electric blower 69 to make the negative pressure act on thesecond inlet 65.

Regardless of whether the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is home at the homeposition, the electric cleaning apparatus 1A operates the secondelectric blower 69 on the basis of a direct command to the station unit5A or the operation of a sensor (not illustrated) which detects approachof a mop, a broom or a floor cleaning tool itself, to the second inlet65. The negative pressure generated by the operation of the secondelectric blower 69 acts on the second inlet 65 through the second dustcollecting container 68 so that the dust is sucked from the second inlet65. The dust sucked from the second inlet 65 is a dust collected by ameans except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as the mop, the broomor the floor cleaning tool, or a dust adhering to the mop, the broom, orthe floor cleaning tool itself.

The station unit 5A includes a transit air passage 145 which allows thedust collecting container 12 and the second dust collecting container 68to communicate with each other when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homesto the station unit 5A.

The transit air passage 145 may be in either a mode in which the dustcollecting container 12 is directly connected to the second dustcollecting container 68 without a first inlet 6 (transit air passage 145a) or a mode in which the dust collecting container 12 is connected tothe second dust collecting container 68 through the first inlet 6(transit air passage 145 b).

The transit air passage 145 (145 a, 145 b) is provided at the secondbody case 66. One end portion of the transit air passage 145 (145 a, 145b) is connected to the second dust collecting container 68.

The other end portion of the transit air passage 145 a is disposed at anappropriate location to communicate with the dust collecting container12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2homes. The dust collecting container 12 preferably includes a lid (notillustrated) which opens to allow the dust collecting container 12 andthe transit air passage 145 a to communicate with each other in responseto the homing of the autonomous cleaning unit 2.

The other end portion of the transit air passage 145 b is disposed at anappropriate location to communicate with the first inlet 6 of theautonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes.

When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes to the home position, theelectric cleaning apparatus 1A allows the charging terminal 19 of theautonomous cleaning unit 2 and the charging electrode 3 of the stationunit 5A to be in contact with each other so that electrical connectionis established to charge the secondary battery 18. At this time, theelectric cleaning apparatus 1A fluidically connects the dust collectingcontainer 12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the second electricblower 69 of the station unit 5A through the second dust collectingcontainer 68 of the station unit 5A through or without the first inlet 6of the autonomous cleaning unit 2, and then operates the second electricblower 69. A negative pressure generated by operation of the secondelectric blower 69 acts on the dust collecting container 12 of theautonomous cleaning unit 2 through the second dust collecting container68 and the transit air passage 145 (transit air passage 145 a or transitair passage 145 b) so that the dust is transported from the dustcollecting container 12 to the second dust collecting container 68.

For adding the function of transporting dust from the dust collectingcontainer 12 to the second dust collecting container 68, to the electriccleaning apparatus 1A, a switching mechanism 146 which applies thenegative pressure acting on the second dust collecting container 68 tothe side of the second inlet 65 or to the dust collecting container 12of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is preferably provided.

Since the electric cleaning apparatus 1A having the configurationaccording to the embodiment includes the second inlet 65 of the stationunit 5A, the dust collected by the means except the autonomous cleaningunit 2 such as the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool, or thedust adhering to the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool itself,can be sucked. The dust suction function of the electric cleaningapparatus 1A is suitable for locally cleaning part of the residentialroom, for example, for cleaning dust such as wastes of snacks spilled bya child. In other words, the electric cleaning apparatus 1A takes a timeunit from several tens of minutes to an hour when the autonomouscleaning unit 2 autonomously drives to clean the entire residentialroom, and can promptly suck and accumulate the dust swept in a time unitfrom several tens of seconds to several minutes from the second inlet 65when the residential room is locally cleaned by the means except theautonomous cleaning unit 2 such as the mop, the broom or the floorcleaning tool.

The electric cleaning apparatus 1A according to the embodiment canprovide a promptly dust suction function by the station unit 5Aindependently.

Furthermore, the electric cleaning apparatus 1A according to theembodiment transports the dust, collected by the autonomous cleaningunit 2 to the station unit 5A to accumulate the dust so that a largeamount of dust can be successively accumulated over a longer period andan interval until the next working for maintenance can be prolonged.

Thus, According to the electric cleaning apparatuses 1, 1A of theembodiments, cleaning can be performed autonomously with the autonomouscleaning unit 2 and disposal of the swept dust can be easily carried outafter the prompt local cleaning by the means except the autonomouscleaning unit 2, such as the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool,by using the station units 5, 5A having the function of charging theautonomous cleaning unit 2 and to be placed in the residential rooms.

A third embodiment of the electric cleaning apparatus according to theinvention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the external appearance of an electriccleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, an electric cleaning apparatus 1according to the embodiment includes an autonomous cleaning unit 2 whichautonomously moves over a surface to be cleaned to collect dust on thesurface to be cleaned, and a station unit 5 having charging electrodes 3for the autonomous cleaning unit 2. The electric cleaning apparatus 1causes the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to autonomously move over asurface to be cleaned in a residential room to collect the dust. Then,the electric cleaning apparatus 1 causes the autonomous cleaning unit 2to home to the station unit 5 and subsequently transports the dustcollected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the side of the stationunit 5 to collect the dust.

A position at which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is electricallyconnected to the charging electrodes 3 of the station unit 5 is the homeposition of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 which homes to the stationunit 5. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes to the home position whencharge is necessary or cleaning of the residential room is finished. Theposition at which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is electricallyconnected to the charging electrodes 3 of the station unit 5 isdetermined according to a relative positional relationship between theautonomous cleaning unit 2 which autonomously moves and the station unit5 capable of being placed at any location.

In FIG. 3, an arrow A represents a forward direction of the autonomouscleaning unit 2, and an arrow B represents a backward direction of theautonomous cleaning unit 2. The width direction of the autonomouscleaning unit 2 is orthogonal to the arrow A and the arrow B.

The autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves forward and separates from thestation unit 5 to autonomously move in the residential room, and movesbackward and couples with the station unit 5 in homing to the stationunit 5.

The autonomous cleaning unit 2 is a so-called robotic cleaner. Theautonomous cleaning unit 2 includes a hollow and discoid first body case11, a first dust collecting container 12 detachably provided at the rearportion of the first body case 11, a first electric blower 13 connectedto the first dust collecting container 12 and housed in the first bodycase 11, a moving unit 15 which moves the autonomous cleaning unit 2 onthe surface to be cleaned, a drive unit 16 which drives the moving unit15, a robotic control unit 17 which controls the drive unit 16 to causethe first body case 11 to autonomously move over a surface to becleaned, and a secondary battery 18 as a power source.

The station unit 5 is placed at an arbitrary location on the surface tobe cleaned. The station unit 5 includes a base 21 onto which theautonomous cleaning unit 2 moving to the position to be connectedelectrically to the charging electrodes 3 (a home position) goes up, adust, collector 22 integrally formed with the base 21, a dust transportduct 25 hermetically coupled to the first dust collecting container 12of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 in the positional relationship inwhich the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is electrically connected to thecharging electrodes 3 (home position), a lever 26 protruding from thedust transport duct 25, and a power cord 29 which guides power from acommercial alternating current power source.

The autonomous cleaning unit 2 according to the third embodiment of theinvention will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the autonomouscleaning unit of the electric cleaning apparatus according to the thirdembodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 of the electriccleaning apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment of the inventionincludes a central brush 31 provided on the bottom surface 11 a of thefirst body case 11, a central-brush drive portion 32 which drives thecentral brush 31, left and right paired side brushes 33 provided on thebottom surface 11 a of the first body case 11, and left and right pairedside-brush drive portions 35 which drive the respective side brushes 33.

The discoid first body case 11 is formed of, for example, a syntheticresin, and can easily circle on the surface to be cleaned. A laterallylong first inlet 36 is provided at a central portion in the widthdirection of the posterior half of the bottom surface 11 a.

The first inlet 36 in width is approximate to two thirds of the firstbody case 11 in width, namely, in diameter. The first inlet 36 isfluidically connected to the first electric blower 13 through the firstdust collecting container 12.

The first, body case 11 has a dust container opening 37 on the bottomsurface 11 a. The dust container opening 37 is disposed at a portioncovering the lower portion of the first dust collecting container 12,behind the first, inlet 36. The dust container opening 37 has arectangular shape with rounded corners, and partially exposes the firstdust collecting container 12 attached to the first body case 11.

The first dust collecting container 12 accumulates the dust sucked fromthe first inlet 36 due to suction negative pressure generated by thefirst electric blower 13. The first dust collecting container 12includes a filter which filters and collects the dust from the air, anda separating device which separates the dust from the air with inertialseparation such as centrifugation (cyclone separation) or translatoryseparation to accumulate the dust. The first dust collecting container12 is disposed at the rear portion of the first body case 11, behind thefirst inlet 36. The first dust collecting container 12 includes acontainer body 38 which is provided detachably to the first body case 11and accumulates the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, acoupling portion 39 exposed from the dust container opening 37 with thefirst dust collecting container 12 attached to the first body case 11, adisposal opening 41 which is provided at the coupling portion 39 anddisposes of the dust in the container body 38, and a disposal lid 42which opens or closes the disposal opening 41.

The moving unit 15 includes left and right paired driving wheels 45disposed on the bottom surface 11 a of the first body case 11, and acircling wheel 46 disposed on the bottom surface 11 a of the first bodycase 11.

The paired driving wheels 45 protrude from the bottom surface 11 a ofthe first body case 11, and are in contact with the surface to becleaned with the autonomous cleaning unit 2 placed on the surface to becleaned. The paired driving wheels 45 are disposed at a substantiallycentral portion in the longitudinal direction of the first body case 11,and are also disposed close to the respective left and right portions ofthe first body case 11, without blocking ahead of the first inlet 36.The rotary shaft of the paired driving wheels 45 is disposed on astraight line extending in the width direction of the first body case11. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 rotates the left and right drivingwheels 45 mutually in the same direction to move forward or backward,and rotates the left and right driving wheels 45 mutually opposite tocircle right or left.

The circling wheel 46 is a driven wheel capable of circling. Thecircling wheel 46 is disposed at a substantially central portion in thewidth direction of the first body case 11 and at the front portion.

The drive unit 16 includes paired electric motors connected to thepaired respective driving wheels 45. The drive unit 16 drives the leftand right driving wheels 45 independently.

The robotic control unit 17 includes a microprocessor (not illustrated),and a storage device (not illustrated) which stores, for example,various computing programs to be executed by the microprocessor andparameters. The robotic control unit 17 is electrically connected to thefirst electric blower 13, the central-brush drive portion 32, the driveunit 16, and the side-brush drive portions 35.

The secondary battery 18 is a power source for the first electric blower13, the central-brush drive portion 32, the drive unit 16, theside-brush drive portions 35, and the robotic control unit 17. Thesecondary battery 18 is disposed, for example, between the circlingwheel 46 and the first inlet 36. The secondary battery 18 iselectrically connected to paired charging terminals 47 disposed on thebottom surface 11 a of the first body case 11. Connection of thecharging terminals 47 to the charging electrodes 3 of the station unit 5allows the secondary battery 18 to be charged.

The central brush 31 is provided at the first inlet 36. The centralbrush 31 is an axle-shaped brush rotatable around a rotational centerline extending in the width direction of the first body case 11. Forexample, the central brush 31 includes a long shaft portion (notillustrated), and a plurality of brushes (not illustrated) which extendsin the radial direction of the shaft portion and is spirally arranged inthe longitudinal direction of the shaft portion. The central brush 31protrudes from the first inlet 36 below the bottom surface 11 a of thefirst body case 11, and makes the brushes into contact with the surfaceto be cleaned with the autonomous cleaning unit 2 placed on the surfaceto be cleaned.

The central-brush drive portion 32 is housed in the first body case 11.

The paired side brushes 33 each are an auxiliary sweeper which gathersthe dust on the surface to be cleaned alongside a wall where the centralbrush 31 does not reach, to guide the dust to the first inlet 36, thepaired side brushes 33 being disposed on the respective left and rightsides in the forward direction of the central brush 31. The side brushes33 each include a brush base 48 having a rotational center slightlyinclining forward to the perpendicular of the surface to be cleaned,and, for example, three linear sweepers 49 radially protruding in theradial direction of the brush base 48.

The left and right brush bases 48 are disposed close to the left andright sides from the first inlet 36 respectively, ahead of the firstinlet 36 and the left and right driving wheels 45 and behind thecircling wheel 46. The rotational center line of each of the brush bases48 slightly inclines forward to the perpendicular of the surface to becleaned. Thus, the linear sweepers 49 circle along a plane incliningforward to the surface to be cleaned. The linear sweeper 49 whichcircles to the front side of each brush base 48 is pressed against thesurface to be cleaned as closer to the leading end, and the linearsweeper 49 which circles to the rear side of each brush base 48separates away from the surface to be cleaned as closer to the leadingend.

The plurality of linear sweepers 49 is disposed radially from each ofthe brush bases 48 into, for example, three directions at regularintervals. Each side brush 33 may have four linear sweepers 49 or morefor each brush base 48. Each linear sweeper 49 has a plurality ofbristles as a sweeping member on the side of the leading end.Furthermore, the bristles circle to draw a trajectory expanding outsidethe outer circumferential edge of the first body case 11.

Each side-brush drive portion 35 has a rotary shaft protruding downwardwhich is connected to the brush base 48 of the side brush 33. Eachside-brush drive portion 35 rotates the side brush 33 in order to gatherthe dust on the surface to be cleaned toward the first inlet 36.

The station unit 5 according to the third embodiment of the inventionwill be described in detail.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the station unit of the electriccleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the base 21 of the station unit 5 according tothe embodiment projects forward from the station unit 5 and expands in arectangular shape. The base 21 includes a high-floor portion 61connected to the bottom portion of the dust collector 22, and alow-floor portion 62 projecting from the high-floor portion 61. Thelow-floor portion 62 and the high-floor portion 61 zonally extend in thewidth direction of the station unit 5. The charging electrodes 3 and theinlet of the dust transport duct 25 are disposed at the high-floorportion 61.

The autonomous cleaning unit 2 arrives at the home position with thepaired driving wheels 45 positioned on the low-floor portion 62 and thefirst dust collecting container 12 disposed above the high-floor portion61.

The base 21 has uneven traveling surfaces 63 which reduce the respectivecontact areas of the paired driving wheels 45 when the autonomouscleaning unit 2 moves toward the position electrically connected to thecharging electrodes 3 (home position). Each traveling surface 63 hasunevenness having a plurality of lines, lattice-like unevenness orunevenness having a plurality of hemispheres which is provided at partof the base 21.

The dust collector 22 includes a second body case 66 having a secondinlet 65 which sucks dust different from the dust collected by theautonomous cleaning unit 2, a second dust collecting container 68 whichaccumulates the dust of which the first dust collecting container 12disposes through the dust transport duct 25, a second electric blower 69connected to the second dust collecting container 68 and housed in thesecond body case 66, and the power cord 29 which guides the power fromthe commercial alternating current power source to the second electricblower 69 and the charging electrodes 3.

The second body case 66 is disposed at the rear portion of the stationunit 5, extends above the base 21, is an box of an appropriate shapecapable of being placed on the surface to be cleaned in the residentialroom, and includes a wall surface 66 a having a height to a surface tobe placed. The second body case 66 has an appropriate shape not tointerfere with the autonomous cleaning unit 2 even when the autonomouscleaning unit 2 homes.

The second body case 66 is short in the depth direction (direction inwhich the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves in homing) and is long in thewidth direction. The second body case 66 has one half portion in thewidth direction, specifically, a right half portion at which the seconddust collecting container 68 is disposed, and has the other half portionin the width direction, specifically, a left half portion at which thesecond electric blower 69 is housed.

The front wall of the second body case 66 has an arc-shaped recessportion 71 corresponding to the rear end portion of the autonomouscleaning unit 2. The inlet of the dust transport duct 25 is providedwithin a range from the high-floor portion 61 of the base 21 over therecess portion 71. The recess portion 71 is provided with a homing checkdetecting unit 72 which detects whether the autonomous cleaning unit 2is present at the position electrically connected to the chargingelectrodes 3 (home position).

The homing check detecting unit 72 is a so-called proximity sensor whichdetects the relative distance to the autonomous cleaning unit 2 withvisible light or infrared light. The homing check detecting unit 72includes a first sensing portion 73 which detects the relative distanceto the autonomous cleaning unit 2 in the front direction of the dustcollector 22, and a second sensing portion 75 which detects the relativedistance to the autonomous cleaning unit 2 in the height direction ofthe second body case 66.

The second inlet 65 is applied for use in sucking a dust collected by ameans except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as a mop, a broom or afloor cleaning tool, or a dust adhering to the mop, the broom, or thefloor cleaning tool itself. The second inlet 65 is provided at the lowerportion of the right wall surface of the second body case 66 which isthe wall surface 66 a having the height to the surface to be placed. Thesecond inlet 65 has an appropriate width along the placed surface and anappropriate height in the perpendicular direction of the surface to becleaned.

The paired charging electrodes 3 are disposed such that the inlet of thedust transport duct 25 is interposed between the electrodes 3. Thecharging electrodes 3 are arranged in front of the respective left andright edges of the recess portion 71.

The second dust collecting container 68 is detachably attached to theright side of the dust collector 22 and is exposed.

The second electric blower 69 applies suction negative pressure to thedust transport duct 25 or the second inlet 65 through the second dustcollecting container 68.

The second body case 66 is internally provided with a suction airpassage 76 fluidically connecting the second inlet 65 with the seconddust collecting container 68 and a downstream air passage 77 fluidicallyconnecting the second dust collecting container 68 with the secondelectric blower 69, in addition to the dust transport duct 25.

Both of the dust transport duct 25 and the suction air passage 76 areconnected to the suction side (upstream side) of the second dustcollecting container 68. In Other words, the negative pressure generatedby the second electric blower 69 acts on both of the dust transport duct25 and the suction air passage 76 through the second dust collectingcontainer 68. Thus, the station unit 5 includes an air passage switchingmechanism 78. The air passage switching mechanism 78 interrupts fluidconnection between the suction air passage 76 and the second dustcollecting container 68 in transporting the dust from the autonomouscleaning unit 2 while establishing fluid connection between the dusttransport duct 25 and the second dust collecting container 68, andestablishes the fluid connection between the suction air passage 76 andthe second dust collecting container 68 in making the negative pressureact on the second inlet 65 while interrupting the fluid connectionbetween the dust transport duct 25 and the second dust collectingcontainer 68.

The dust transport duct 25 is hermetically coupled to the disposalopening 41 in contact with the coupling portion 39 of the first dustcollecting container 12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2, in thepositional relationship in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 iselectrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home position).

The lever 26, which is disposed at the inlet of the dust transport duct25, includes a hook 79 extending in the front direction of the dustcollector 22 and upward.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the second dust collecting container ofthe electric cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a second centrifugal separating portion ofthe second dust collecting container of the electric cleaning apparatusaccording to the third embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second dust collecting container 68of the electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodimentincludes a multistage centrifugal separating portion 83 including afirst centrifugal separating portion 81 which centrifugally separatesthe dust flowing from the dust transport duct 25 or the second inlet 65from the air, and a second centrifugal separating portion 82 whichseparates the dust passing through the first centrifugal separatingportion 81 from the air.

The first centrifugal separating portion 81 centrifugally separatescoarse dust from the air guided by the second dust collecting container68. The second centrifugal separating portion 82 centrifugally separatesfine dust from the air passing through the first centrifugal separatingportion 81. The coarse dust is fibriform dust such as lint or fluff, orlarge-mass dust such as a grain of sand. The fine dust is particulate orpowdery small-mass dust.

The second dust collecting container 68 includes an exhaust air passage85 which supplies the air passing through the second centrifugalseparating portion 82 to the second electric blower 69, and a top cover86 which covers the exhaust air passage 85.

The first centrifugal separating portion 81 is disposed on one side ofthe second dust collecting container 68, specifically, on the lower halfside. The second centrifugal separating portion 82, asecond-separating-unit upper cover 87, the exhaust air passage 85 andthe top cover 86 are disposed on the other side of the second dustcollecting container 68, specifically, on the upper half side. The firstcentrifugal separating portion 81 and the second centrifugal separatingportion 82 are adjacently arranged in a height direction of the seconddust collecting container 68 having a cylindrical shape.

The first centrifugal separating portion 81, the second-separating-unitupper cover 87 and the top cover 86 are arranged together such that theexternal appearance of the second dust collecting container 68 has asubstantially cylindrical shape.

The first centrifugal separating portion 81 separates dust from dustyair in a centrifugation manner (cyclone manner). The first centrifugalseparating portion 81 includes a cup-shaped dust collecting container 92(cup of the second dust collecting container 68) as a hull of a firstcentrifugally separating room 91, a cylindrical first filter portion 93arranged in the dust collecting container 92, and a dust capturing cup95 arranged in the dust collecting container 92 and connected to thefirst filter portion 93.

The dust collecting container 92 is a hull of the lower half portion ofthe second dust collecting container 68, and doubles as the hull of thefirst centrifugally separating room 91 and a full of a dust collectingroom 97. The side wall of the dust collecting container 92 is providedwith an air inlet 98. The air inlet 98 is fluidically connected to thedust transport duct 25 and the suction air passage 76.

The dust collecting container 92 includes a large-diameter portion 101disposed at an open end portion, a slant portion 102 which is connectedto the large-diameter portion 101 and narrows toward a small diameter,and a small-diameter portion 103 which is connected to the slant portion102 and extends to the bottom wall with a substantially uniformdiameter.

The connected portion between the large-diameter portion 101 and thesmall-diameter portion 103, namely, the slant portion 102 has a slantsurface 105 narrowing from the large-diameter portion 101 toward thesmall-diameter portion 103 inside the dust collecting container 92.

The small-diameter portion 103 is connected to the bottom wall of thedust collecting container 92.

The first filter portion 93 is housed in the dust collecting container92 such that the first filter portion 93 is substantially coaxiallydisposed. An annular space separating the first filter portion 93 andthe dust collecting container 92 is the first centrifugally separatingroom 91 which allows the dusty air flowing from the air inlet 98 of thedust collecting container 92 into the first centrifugal separatingportion 81 to circle so that the coarse dust is centrifugally separated.

The first filter portion 93 is fixed to the second centrifugalseparating portion 82 such that the first filter portion 93 protrudesinside the dust collecting container 92 and extends toward the bottomwall of the dust collecting container 92. The first filter portion 93fluidically connects the first centrifugally separating room 91 and thesecond centrifugal separating portion 82, and allows of communicationtherebetween. The first filter portion 93 includes a frame 107 having aplurality of bones 106 which is cylindrically disposed and is spacedapart from each other, and a first meshed filter 108 cylindricallysurrounding the circumference of the frame 107. A first opening 109 tothe bones 106 of the frame 107 allows the air to flow from the firstcentrifugally separating room 91 into the second centrifugal separatingportion 82. The side surface of the first filter portion 93, in moredetail, the first meshed filter 108 faces the air inlet 98.

The first meshed filter 108 prevents the coarse dust from flowing fromthe first centrifugal separating portion 81 into the side of the secondcentrifugal separating portion 82, during a period during which a swirlflow is undeveloped in the first centrifugally separating room 91 suchas immediately after the start of the second electric blower 69 ortransition to the stop, and rightfully after the development of theswirl flow.

The first filter portion 93 does not necessarily need the first meshedfilter 108 to the extent to which the coarse dust can be prevented fromflowing into the downstream side. For example, when the frame 107 of thefirst filter portion 93 has a fine-lattice shape to the extent to whichthe coarse dust can be prevented from passing, or has small holes to theextent to which the coarse dust can be prevented from passing, the firstmeshed filter 108 is not necessarily needed.

The dust capturing cup 95 is provided at the end portion of the firstfilter portion 93 which is close to the bottom wall of the dustcollecting container 92, namely, at the protruding end portion or thelower end portion. The dust capturing cup 95 has a bottomed cylindricalshape, and includes a bottom wall connected to the first filter portion93 and a side wall extending toward the bottom wall of the dustcollecting container 92. The dust capturing cup 95 is open to the bottomwall of the dust collecting container 92. The side wall of the dustcapturing cup 95 faces the inner circumferential surface of the dustcollecting container 92 across a gap. The dust capturing cup 95 islarger in diameter than the first filter portion 93, and has a secondopening 111 on the bottom wall connected to the first filter portion 93.

A space separating the dust capturing cup 95 and the dust collectingcontainer 92 is the dust collecting room 97 which accumulates the dustseparated by the first centrifugal separating portion 81. The air in thedust collecting room 97 returns to the first centrifugally separatingroom 91 through the second opening 111.

The second opening 111 is provided with a second meshed filter 112. Thesecond meshed filter 112 may be coarse to the extent to which the coarsedust (fibriform dust, such as lint or fluff) flowing into the dustcollecting room 97 is inhibited from returning to the firstcentrifugally separating room 91.

Removing of the dust collecting container 92 from the second dustcollecting container 68 allows the first filter portion 93 and the dustcapturing cup 95 to come out of the dust collecting container 92together with the second centrifugal separating portion 82.

The second centrifugal separating portion 82 separates the fine dustfrom the dusty air passing through the first centrifugal separatingportion 81. The second centrifugal separating portion 82 includes atransit air passage 113 which guides the air passing through the firstcentrifugally separating room 91, a second centrifugally separating room115 which separates the fine dust from the air flowing from the transitair passage 113, and the exhaust air passage 85 which guides the airflowing from the second centrifugally separating room 115 after theseparation of the fine dust, to the second electric blower 69.

The second centrifugal separating portion 82 is detachably coupled tothe dust collecting container 92 and covers an open end 92 a of the dustcollecting container 92. The second centrifugal separating portion 82supports the first filter portion 93 and the dust capturing cup 95 onthe center line C of the dust collecting container 92.

The second-separating-unit upper cover 87 corresponding to the hull ofthe second centrifugal separating portion 82 has a cylindrical shape. Aplurality of second centrifugally separating rooms 115 is annularlyarranged inside the second-separating-unit upper cover 87. The transitair passage 113 having an annular shape is arranged inside the pluralityof second centrifugally separating rooms 115 annularly arranged.Furthermore, the exhaust air passage 85 is disposed on the extension ofthe center line C of the dust collecting container 92 inside the annulartransit air passage 113 or at the center portion of the secondcentrifugal separating portion 82 having a cylindrical shape. In otherwords, the second centrifugal separating portion 82 is a triplestructure in which the annularly arranged second centrifugallyseparating rooms 115, the annular transit air passage 113 and theexhaust air passage 85 are arranged in the order from the side of thesecond-separating-unit upper cover 87.

The transit air passage 113 guides the air (dusty air) flowing from thefirst filter portion 93 in a direction in which the air moves away fromthe dust collecting container 92, in order to guide the air to thesecond centrifugally separating rooms 115.

The plurality of second centrifugally separating rooms 115 is arrangedalong the inner circumference of the cylindrical second-separating-unitupper cover 87 or is arranged surrounding the transit air passage 113,in a substantially annular shape. Each of the second centrifugallyseparating rooms 115 has a cylindrical wall 116 which generates a swirlflow, and a truncated-cone-shaped wall 117 which generates a spiralflow.

The cylindrical wall 116 and the truncated-cone-shaped wall 117 haverespective center lines arranged on substantially the same line. Each ofthe center lines, namely, the center line of the second centrifugallyseparating room 115 is arranged in parallel to the center line C of thecylindrical second dust collecting container 68. The center lines of thesecond centrifugally separating rooms 115 may radially incline such thatthe center lines of the second centrifugally separating rooms 115 form aconical surface which narrows on the side of the first centrifugalseparating portion 81 and expands at the second centrifugal separatingportion 82. When the entire plurality of second centrifugally separatingrooms 115 is viewed, the center lines of the cylindrical walls 116 andthe truncated-cone-shaped walls 117, are circularly disposed at thecircumference of the center line C of the second dust collectingcontainer 68.

Each truncated-cone-shaped walls 117 has an upper bottom having a largediameter and a lower bottom having a smaller diameter than that of theupper bottom. The upper bottoms of the truncated-cone-shaped walls 117are disposed on the far side of the first centrifugal separating portion81, and the lower bottoms are disposed on the near side of the firstcentrifugal separating portion 81. Each cylindrical walls 116 has adiameter substantially the same as that of the upper bottom of thetruncated-cone-shaped wall 117, and is connected to the upper bottom ofthe truncated-cone-shaped wall 117.

The cylindrical walls 116 are disposed further from the firstcentrifugal separating portion 81 than the respectivetruncated-cone-shaped walls 117. The side wall of each of thecylindrical walls 116 is provided with a dusty-air introducing opening118. The introducing opening 118 is disposed on the side surface of thecylindrical wall 116 and on the center side of the second dustcollecting container 68, and is connected to the transit air passage113.

Each cylindrical walls 116 has a bottom plate at a portion furthest fromthe first centrifugal separating portion 81. Each bottom plates of thetruncated-cone-shaped walls 117 is provided with a tubular innercylinder 119 extending along the center line in the cylindrical wall116. The inside of the inner cylinder 119 is an outlet 121 whichexhausts clean air separated from the dusty air in the secondcentrifugally separating room 115. The outlet 121 is connected to theexhaust air passage 85. The outside of the inner cylinder 119 faces theintroducing opening 118. An annular space which separates the innercylinder 119 and the cylindrical wall 116 allows the flow of the dustyair flowing from the introducing opening 118 to swirl.

Furthermore, the cylindrical wall 116 is open at a portion closest tothe first centrifugal separating portion 81. The portion communicateswith an opening of the upper bottom of the truncated-cone-shaped wall117.

The truncated-cone-shaped wall 117 reduces in diameter as closer to thefirst centrifugal separating portion 81. The upper bottom of thetruncated-cone-shaped wall 117 has the opening communicating with thecylindrical wall 116 internally, and the opening allows the swirl flowoccurring between the cylindrical wall 116 and the inner cylinder 119 tobe introduced so that the spiral flow occurs in thetruncated-cone-shaped wall 117. The lower bottom of thetruncated-cone-shaped wall 117 has a disposal opening 122 communicatingwith the dust collecting container 92 internally.

The second centrifugally separating room 115 introduces the dusty airfrom the introducing opening 118. The dusty air flowing from theintroducing opening 118 into the second centrifugally separating room115 swirls along the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 116, andfurthermore, the swirling spiral flow which moves toward the disposalopening 122 along the inner surface of the truncated-cone-shaped wall117 is generated to separate the fine dust from the air. The fine dustseparated is discharged from the disposal opening 122 to the side of thedust collecting container 92. The clean air separated from the dustflows on the center line of the second centrifugally separating room115, namely, on the center lines of the cylindrical wall 116 and thetruncated-cone-shaped wall 117, to flow from the outlet 121 to theexhaust air passage 85 through the inner cylinder 119.

A dust capturing umbrella 125 is provided ahead of the disposal opening122 of the second centrifugally separating room 115. The dust capturingumbrella 125 is provided at the base of the first filter portion 93, andis used as a partition wall partitioning the first centrifugalseparating portion 81 and the second centrifugal separating portion 82.The outer diameter of the dust capturing umbrella 125 is smaller thanthe second centrifugal separating portion 82 and is larger than thefirst filter portion 93. The dust capturing umbrella 125 has one surface125 a which guides the fine dust discharged from the disposal opening122 of the second centrifugally separating room 115 to the dustcollecting container 92, and the other surface 125 b expands andinclines into the dust collecting container 92.

The dust capturing umbrella 125 protrudes to and abuts on the slantportion 102 of the dust collecting container 92 to cover the dustcollecting container 92. The large-diameter portion 101 and slantportion 102 of the dust collecting container 92 and the dust capturingumbrella 125 partition a fine dust collecting room 126 which accumulatesthe dust discharged from the second centrifugally separating room 115.The fine dust collecting room 126 has a substantially wedge-shaped spacenarrowing as further from the second centrifugally separating room 115,namely, as further from the disposal opening 122 of the secondcentrifugally separating room 115. The substantially wedge-shaped spaceis interposed between the inner surface of the large-diameter portion101, the slant surface of the slant portion 102, and the one surface 125a of the dust capturing umbrella 125.

The other surface 125 b of the dust capturing umbrella 125 is larger indiameter than the first filter portion 93 and the dust capturing cup 95,and increases in diameter toward the first filter portion 93 and thedust capturing cup 95.

The exhaust air passage 85 leads from a most outer circumferentialportion connected to the outlet 121 such that the most outercircumferential portion covers the second centrifugally separating room115, toward the side of the center portion of the second centrifugalseparating portion 82 while reducing in diameter, and enters the centerportion of the transit air passage 113 on the center line C of the dustcollecting container 92. The exhaust air passage 85 bends in a directioncrossing the extension of the center line C of the dust collectingcontainer 92 (the center line of the second dust collecting container68) from a portion surrounded by the plurality of second centrifugallyseparating rooms 115, and leads to a second outlet 127 provided to theside wall of the second centrifugal separating portion 82. The exhaustair passage 85 has a recess portion 128 recessed toward the firstcentrifugal separating portion 81 at a portion furthest from the firstcentrifugal separating portion 81 which is adjacent to the top cover 86.The exhaust air passage 85 intensively gathers the air flowing from theoutlets 121 of the second centrifugally separating rooms 115 toward thecenter side of the second dust collecting container 68 andsimultaneously orients the air toward the first centrifugal separatingportion 81 once by the recess portion 128. Then, the exhaust air passage85 changes the orientation of the flow at a substantially right angle toexhaust the air to the second outlet 127. The second outlet 127 isconnected to the downstream air passage 77.

When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the home position of thestation unit 5, the charging terminals 47 of the autonomous cleaningunit 2 are electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 of thestation unit 5. At this time, the dust transport duct 25 of the stationunit 5 is connected to the coupling portion 39 of the first dustcollecting container 12. Then, the station unit 5 drives the secondelectric blower 69 to suck air, and transports the dust from the firstdust collecting container 12 to the second dust collecting container 68.In the second dust collecting container 68, the first centrifugalseparating portion 81 separates the coarse dust from the air toaccumulate the coarse dust into the dust collecting room 97. In thesecond dust collecting container 68, the second centrifugal separatingportion 82 separates the fine dust from the air passing through thefirst centrifugal separating portion 81, to accumulate the fine dustinto the fine dust collecting room 126.

Regardless of whether the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is home at the homeposition, the station unit 5 operates the second electric blower 69, onthe basis of a direct command or the operation of a sensor (notillustrated) which detects approach of the mop, the broom, or the floorcleaning tool itself, to the second inlet 65. The negative pressuregenerated by the drive of the second electric blower 69, acts on thesecond inlet 65 of the station unit 5 through the second dust collectingcontainer 68, to suck dust from the second inlet 65. The dust suckedfrom the second inlet 65 is a dust collected by the means except theautonomous cleaning unit 2, such as the mop, the broom or the floorcleaning tool, or a dust adhering to the mop, the broom, or the floorcleaning tool itself.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are longitudinal sectional views of a coupling portionbetween the autonomous cleaning unit and station unit of the electriccleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate approaches of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 tothe position electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3,namely, to the home position. When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 movesaway from the station unit 5, an inverse aspect from FIG. 9 to FIG. 8 isprovided.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and FIG. 4, the first dust collectingcontainer 12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 according to theembodiment, includes the container body 38 which accumulates the dustcollected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, to be detachably providedto the first body case 11, the coupling portion 39 exposed from the dustcontainer opening 37 with the first dust collecting container 12attached to the first body case 11, the disposal opening 41 which isprovided at the coupling portion 39 and disposes of the dust in thecontainer body 38, and the disposal lid 42 which opens or closes thedisposal opening 41.

The coupling portion 39 is integrally formed with the container body 38.The coupling portion 39 protrudes in a rectangular shape with roundedcorners, corresponding to the dust container opening 37. The attachmentof the first dust collecting container 12 to the first body case 11allows the coupling portion 39 to engage with the dust container opening37. The coupling portion 39 has an outer circumferential edge portionflush with the outer surface of the first body case 11, and equally hasa recess portion at the circumferential edge portion of the disposalopening 41. The disposal opening 41 is disposed at the center of therecess portion. The disposal lid 42 is disposed at the recess portion.

The coupling portion 39 may be disposed at a location facing the dustcontainer opening 37, with the first dust collecting container 12attached to the first body case 11. In the case, the coupling portion 39is disposed at a location at which the coupling portion 39 can be viewedfrom the dust container opening 37, inside the first body case 11. Thedust transport duct 25 preferably has a protruding length reachable tothe coupling portion 39 through the dust container opening 37.

The disposal opening 41 is open below the autonomous cleaning unit 2,with the first dust collecting container 12 attached to the first bodycase 11.

The disposal opening 41 is disposed closer to the station unit 5 thanthe center of the autonomous cleaning unit 2, in the positionalrelationship in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is electricallyconnected to the charging electrodes 3 (home position). In other words,when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves backward and comes close tothe station unit 5 and the paired driving wheels 45 come onto the base21 of the station unit 5, the disposal opening 41 comes close to thedust collector 22 of the station unit 5.

The disposal lid 42 is exposed on the external appearance of theautonomous cleaning unit 2, and is flush with the outer surface of thefirst body case 11. The disposal lid 42 includes a lever hook 131 whichhooks the lever 26 of the station unit 5. Note that, similarly to thecoupling portion 39, the disposal lid 42 attached to the first body case11 may be disposed at a location facing the dust container opening 37.In the case, the disposal lid 42 is disposed at a location at which thedisposal lid 42 can be viewed from the dust container opening 37, insidethe first body case 11.

On the other hand, the lever 26 of the station unit 5 according to theembodiment, is hooked up to the disposal lid 42 of the autonomouscleaning unit 2 on the way on which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 movestoward the position electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3(home position). When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 arrives at theposition electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (homeposition), the disposal lid 42 opens to fluidically connect the disposalopening 41 and the dust transport duct 25 (FIG. 9).

The disposal lid 42 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and the lever 26of the station unit 5 rock around a rotational center line C3 crossingin the direction in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves towardthe position electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3. Notethat, a rotational center line C4 of the disposal lid 42 and therotational center line C3 of the lever 26 are desirably orthogonal tothe direction in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward theposition electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (homeposition).

The rotational center line C3 of the lever 26 is disposed at an edgeportion at which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 first arrives, in theopening edge portion of the dust transport duct 25 in the direction inwhich the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward the positionelectrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home position),namely, at the front end portion of the opening edge of the dusttransport duct 25.

The rotational center line C3 of the lever 26 is supported movably inthe direction in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward theposition electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (homeposition). As a result, movement of the rotational center line C3 of thelever 26 in the direction in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 movestoward the position electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3(home position) allows the hook 79 to be hooked up to the lever hook 131without the influence of a variation in the positional precision ofhoming control of the autonomous cleaning unit 2.

Furthermore, the rotational center line C3 of the lever 26 is coveredwith a shaft cover 132 provided at the edge portion at which theautonomous cleaning unit 2 first arrives, in the opening edge portion ofthe dust transport duct 25 in the direction in which the autonomouscleaning unit 2 moves toward the position electrically connected to thecharging electrodes 3 (home position), namely, at the front end portionof the opening edge of the dust transport duct 25.

The rotational center line C4 of the disposal lid 42 is disposed on thefar side of the disposal lid 42 in the direction in which the autonomouscleaning unit 2 moves toward the position electrically connected to thecharging electrodes 3 (home position). The rotational center line C4 ofthe disposal lid 42 is disposed further than the lever hook 131 is, inthe direction in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward theposition electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (homeposition). Furthermore, the rotational center line C4 of the disposallid 42 is disposed further than a lid body 133 which comes in or out ofcontact with the disposal opening 41, is, in the disposal lid 42 in thedirection in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward theposition electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (homeposition).

The arrangements of the rotational center line C3 of the lever 26 andthe rotational center line C4 of the disposal lid 42, allow the disposallid 42 to have a slant surface which guides the dust from the containerbody 38 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the dust transport duct 25when the lever 26 opens the disposal lid 42 (FIG. 9).

The spring force of a coil spring 135 acts on the disposal lid 42 in adirection in which the disposal lid 42 closes. The disposal lid 42 openswhen thrust toward the position at which the autonomous cleaning unit 2is electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home position),exceeds the spring force of the coil spring 135. The coil spring 135 iscompressed to store energy when the disposal lid 42 is open by the lever26, while the coil spring 135 releases the energy to close the disposallid 42 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 separates from the stationunit 5 and the lever 26 comes out of the lever hook 131.

The spring force of a coil spring (not illustrated) acts on the lever 26in a direction in which the lever 26 erects (FIG. 8). The lever 26 ispushed down when the thrust toward the position at which the autonomouscleaning unit 2 is electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3(home position) exceeds the spring force of the coil spring. The coilspring is compressed to store energy when the disposal lid 42 is open bythe lever 26, while the coil spring releases the energy to erect thelever 26 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 separates from the stationunit 5 and the lever 26 comes out of the lever hook 131.

The electric cleaning apparatus 1 having the configuration according tothe embodiment includes the multistage centrifugal separating portion 83including the first centrifugal separating portion 81 whichcentrifugally separates the dust flowing from the dust transport duct 25from the air, and the second centrifugal separating portion 82 whichseparates the dust passing through the first centrifugal separatingportion 81 from the air. Thus, the separation performance deteriorateshardly and is maintained, even when the accumulated amount of dustincreases, and accordingly the suction negative pressure is maintainedand the ability of transporting the dust from the autonomous cleaningunit 2 can be kept. Since the electric cleaning apparatus 1 includes themultistage centrifugal separating portion 83, the suction performance ismaintained without sudden failing even if the electric cleaningapparatus 1 sucks a large amount of powder bodies at once, so that theability of transporting the dust from the autonomous cleaning unit 2 canbe maintained.

Furthermore, since the electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to theembodiment includes the second inlet 65 of the station unit 5, the dustcollected by the means except the autonomous cleaning unit 2 such as themop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool, or the dust adhering to themop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool itself can be sucked. The dustsuction function of the electric cleaning apparatus 1 is suitable forlocally cleaning part of the residential room, for example, for cleaningdust such as pieces of snacks spilled by a child. In other words, theelectric cleaning apparatus 1 takes several tens of minutes to severalhours when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 autonomously drives to cleanthe entire residential room, and equally can promptly suck andaccumulate, from the second inlet 65, dust swept in several tens ofseconds to several minutes when the residential room is locally cleanedby the means except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as the mop, thebroom or the floor cleaning tool.

The electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment maintainsthe sucking force of the second inlet 65 easily, since the multistagecentrifugal separating portion 83 accumulates the dust sucked from thesecond inlet 65 of the station unit 5.

Accordingly, in a case that an object to clean for the second inlet 65is set to a cleaning tool which sweeps dust in proper width such as themop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool, the dust swept by thecleaning tool such as the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool canbe certainly sucked without lowering the suction negative pressure overa long period, even when the size of the second inlet 65 is set suchthat the second inlet 65 has a wide width along the placed surface and aproper height.

Thus, the electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodimentmaintains the ability of transporting the dust from the autonomouscleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5 over a long period, and keeps thefunction of transporting the dust easily, even when sucking a largeamount of powder bodies at once.

According to the third embodiment, there can be provided the electriccleaning apparatus which maintains the ability of transporting the dustfrom the autonomous cleaning unit to the station unit over a long periodand keeps the function of transporting the dust easily, even whensucking a large number of powder bodies at once.

Desirable embodiments of the invention include the following features.

1. An electric cleaning apparatus, comprising an autonomous cleaningunit which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned and collectsdust, and a station unit which has a charging electrode for theautonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous cleaning unit includesa first body case having a first inlet, a secondary battery whichaccumulates electric power supplied from the charging e electrode, afirst dust collecting container which accumulates dust sucked from thefirst inlet, and an electric blower which is driven by electric powersupplied from the secondary battery and makes negative pressure act onthe first dust collecting container, and wherein the station unit isprovided with a second body case having a second inlet which sucks otherdust different from the dust which the autonomous cleaning unitcollects.2. The electric cleaning apparatus according to the No. 1, wherein thestation unit includes a suction air passage which connects the secondinlet with the first inlet or the first dust collecting container whenthe autonomous cleaning unit homes to the station unit.3. The electric cleaning apparatus according to the No. 1 or 2, whereinthe station unit includes a second dust collecting container whichaccumulates dust sucked from the second inlet, and a second electricblower which makes negative pressure act on the second dust collectingcontainer.4. The electric cleaning apparatus according to the No. 3, wherein thestation unit includes a transit air passage which connects the firstdust collecting container and the second dust collecting container whenthe autonomous cleaning unit homes to the station unit.5. The electric cleaning apparatus according to any one of the Nos. 1 to4, wherein the station unit includes a dust transport duct which iscoupled with the autonomous cleaning unit and is fluidically connectedto the first dust collecting container, a second dust collectingcontainer which accumulates dust transported for disposal from the firstdust collecting container through the dust transport duct, and a secondelectric blower which makes negative pressure act on the dust transportduct via the second dust collecting container, wherein the second dustcollecting container is provided with a multistage centrifugalseparating unit including a first centrifugal separating portion whichcentrifugally separates dust flowing from the dust transport duct fromair, and a second centrifugal separating portion which separates dustpassing the first centrifugal separating portion from air.6. An electric cleaning apparatus, comprising an autonomous cleaningunit which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned and collectsdust, and a station unit which has a charging electrode for theautonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous cleaning unit includesa first body case having a first inlet, a secondary battery whichaccumulates electric power supplied from the charging electrode, a firstdust collecting container which accumulates dust sucked from the firstinlet, and an electric blower which is driven by electric power suppliedfrom the secondary battery and makes negative pressure act on the firstdust collecting container, the station unit including a dust transportduct which is coupled with the autonomous cleaning unit and isfluidically connected to the first dust collecting container, a seconddust collecting container which accumulates dust, transported fordisposal from the first dust collecting container through the dusttransport duct, and a second electric blower which makes negativepressure act on the dust transport duct via the second dust collectingcontainer, wherein the second dust collecting container is provided witha multi-stage centrifugal separating unit including a first centrifugalseparating portion which centrifugally separates dust flowing from thedust transport duct from air, and a second centrifugal separatingportion which separates dust passing the first centrifugal separatingportion from air.7. The electric cleaning apparatus according to the No. 6, wherein thestation unit is provided with a second body case having a second inletwhich sucks other dust different from the dust which the autonomouscleaning unit collects.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

1: An electric cleaning apparatus, comprising: an autonomous cleaningunit which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned and collectsdust; and a station unit which has a charging electrode for theautonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous cleaning unit includesa first body case having a first inlet, a secondary battery whichaccumulates electric power supplied from the charging electrode, a firstdust collecting container which accumulates dust sucked from the firstinlet, and an electric blower which is driven by electric power suppliedfrom the secondary battery and makes negative pressure act on the firstdust collecting container, and wherein the station unit is provided witha second body case having a second inlet which sucks other dustdifferent from the dust which the autonomous cleaning unit collects. 2:The electric cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thestation unit includes a suction air passage which connects the secondinlet with the first inlet or the first dust collecting container whenthe autonomous cleaning unit homes to the station unit. 3: The electriccleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the station unitincludes a second dust collecting container which accumulates dustsucked from the second inlet, and a second electric blower which makesnegative pressure act on the second dust collecting container. 4: Theelectric cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the stationunit includes a transit air passage which connects the first dustcollecting container and the second dust collecting container when theautonomous cleaning unit homes to the station unit. 5: The electriccleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the station unitincludes a dust transport duct which is coupled with the autonomouscleaning unit and is fluidically connected to the first dust collectingcontainer, a second dust collecting container which accumulates dusttransported for disposal from the first dust collecting containerthrough the dust transport duct, and a second electric blower whichmakes negative pressure act on the dust transport duct via the seconddust collecting container, wherein the second dust collecting containeris provided with a multistage centrifugal separating unit including afirst centrifugal separating portion which centrifugally separates dustflowing from the dust transport duct from air, and a second centrifugalseparating portion which separates dust passing the first centrifugalseparating portion from air.